Pumpkin Spice + Everything Nice (and what IS Ayurveda anyway???)

Fall is in the air! Whether you work (or play) in the wellness community, or outside it, get ready for Pumpkin-Spice everything!  

But did you know this cozy, cinnamon-y (it’s a word) flavour combo is more than just #fallvibes? This warming autumn beverage actually finds its roots in one of the world’s oldest healing sciences, Ayurveda.  

Ayurvedic scholars estimate that this ancient school of medicine originated in India over 5000 years ago, and it is still used widely in many eastern cultures as the dominant form of medicine today.

The term “Ayurveda” is derived from the Sanskrit words, “Ayur”, meaning “life”, and “veda”, which means “science” or “knowledge”. Thus, “Ayurveda” literally translates to “knowledge of life”, and encompasses a holistic blend of herbal medicines, therapeutic diets, and lifestyle factors like massage, yoga, and meditation to promote healing.   

Built upon the concept of universal interconnectedness, the body’s “constitution” (prakriti), and life forces (doshas) are the foundations of Ayurvedic medicine. The three principle life force energies (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), each possess their own unique blend of the five elements: earth, air, space, fire, and water. It is the balance and interplay of these energies which Ayurvedic practitioners believe make up every element in the cosmos, including your individual biochemistry, and it is the imbalance of these energies which is at the root of all illness, (or “dis-ease”).

In Ayurvedic medicine, Fall and early Winter is considered the season of “Vata” (the air/ether constitution). As we move out of summer, the rough, dry, mobile, and cold qualities of Vata are elevated in our environment, our bodies, and our minds. Aside from the harsher weather, this time of year also tends to coincide with a sense of frenetic busyness as schools start back up and the holiday season approaches.

Now more than ever, it’s important to slow down and ground ourselves through the use of warming spices like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon (which, by the way, are also proven to help balance blood sugar and aid digestion), and nourishing, healthy fats like ghee and coconut milk.

Grown on the earth, pumpkins are also considered to be very grounding and nutritive during Vata season. This earthy quality gives pumpkin its natural relaxant effect, making it a very comforting ingredient in times of stress. Both physically and mentally grounding, pumpkin has a mild natural sedative effect, supported by its high magnesium and potassium content, which helps to relax the muscles and nervous system. Pumpkin is also rich in tryptophan, which encourages healthy sleep and balances mood by acting as the precursor to serotonin, our primary “feel-good” hormone and neurotransmitter.

The demulcent qualities of cooked pumpkin also make it amazing for digestion, coating the digestive tract and acting as a protective barrier for mucus membranes. It’s high water and fiber content help to soothe inflammation, promote bowel regularity, and balance blood sugar, and adding a pinch of nutmeg to pumpkin has been shown to increase its bio-availability and enhance these beneficial effects!

Unfortunately, most mainstream pumpkin spice lattes are not what we would typically call “healthy” (containing massive amounts of sugar, artificial flavour, and caffeine, completely negating any potential health benefits).

Lucky for you, at Pure Nature, we have an organic, non-GMO, dairy-free Pumpkin Spice Latte by Organic Traditions. Lightly sweetened with coconut sugar, this limited-edition, at-home mix contains 100% real pumpkin, a blend of Vata-pacifying, organic spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and clove, and a touch of healthy fat from coconut milk powder, making it the perfect, creamy sipper for when you’re wrapped in a blanket watching the leaves dance in the chilly autumn breeze outside the window.

The mix also contains organic coffee powder, so it can still serve as your much-needed morning pick-me-up! Visit us in-store to pick up your Organic Traditions PSL before they’re gone! Or if you’re someone who needs more of a “chill down”, check out my Ayurvedic Sleep Tonic recipe, available in the Well Fed Cookbook.